Choose

Wake Up

I was in a coma for four years. At least, that is what the nurse said when she found me awake. She was a skinny girl, with curly red hair and red lips. Her pale complexion made me think maybe she spent too long working in the hospital, and not outside.

I sat up in my bed, sore from years without using my body. "Just wait one moment Courtney while I fetch the doctor. He will be very pleased to know about your recovery." She went out the door, heels clicking behind her. I sat up and started flexing my body trying to get rid of the numbness. Like every other room in a hospital, this one was bleach white with a big window that let me see out at the staff. And them me.

The people at the desk kept looking at each other whispering then back at me. I looked down at myself, disgusted that I was wearing one of those hospital gowns. It was awfully breezy clothes. I pulled the blanket back over me and then saw my nails. The nurses have obviously been trimming them to keep them from getting too long, but for me any extra nail isn't acceptable. I was almost finished biting them down to the nubs as the doctor walked in.

"It's nice to see that you have recovered," he said with a big white smile. Where the nurse seemed cold, the doctor practically radiated warmth and friendliness. "I'm doctor Braden, and I've been looking after you for the past four years. I will explain everything later but for now I have some tests I need to run on you to make sure your all healed up in the head okay?" "Okay." I said weakly. My voice hasn't been used in years so it's a little hoarse.

After another couple hours of annoying testing, they allowed me to ask some questions. "So how did I get in a coma? The last thing I remember is going on a trip with my family. We got on the plane and then I can't remember anything else." The Doctor looked at me with a sad expression. One that said he gave people bad news often but still never got used to it. "Courtney. The planes landing gear malfunctioned. They were able to stop it from doing too much damage to the building, but many people were hurt and killed. You suffered severe head trauma during the crash which lead to the coma." I felt the first of many tears to come slide down my face.

"What about my family?" I said in a panic. "Are they okay?" He placed a warm hand on my arm as he said, "Your parents didn't get hurt during the crash. but since your sister was sitting next to you, she q as injured as well. she was in a coma for about three weeks before she finally woke up. She did not suffer any brain damage either though, and is now perfectly healthy." I took a moment to catch my breathe and asked if I could see them.

"I'm so sorry, but you can't right now. Some thing have to be taken care of first." I heard some angry shouting in the distance but figured it was probably just a crazy patient. "What things?! I already did all the tests. What more do you want?" The shouts were getting louder, or was it closer? I heard a crash and grew worried that I would be killed right after I got out of a coma. What kind of bullcrap is that? "Usually they have other staff to tell you these things but they are our today. Plus there's the fact that your the last human left..."

Last human? This guy must be crazy because he is making no sense. "Courtney--." He was cut short by more yelling right outside my room. "You can't go in there!" Someone yelled. "It breaks the rules of the choosing." "I don't give a fuck! Its my sister." I recognized the voice of my younger sister. The last time I saw her she was sixteen and I was eighteen. Part of me wondered how she must look as a twenty year old. And then I realized that I am twenty two and must look different like she would. "Kayla! I'm in here!"

She poked her head around the corner, and when she saw me in the window her face filled in a victorious smile. She walked to my room, ignoring the angry nurses and front desk people. She was stopped at the door by my nurse who blocked the way with her hands on her hips. "I would like to see my sister please."

"You are not allowed to see her until the two weeks are up and she chooses," doctor Braden said. "I won't tell her anything," Kayla said. The doctor moved the nurse out of the way so he could tower over my sister. She seemed unfazed by this and even pushed past him. He reached to grab her but the nurse stopped his hand. "Let her see her sister. It might help Courtney to feel more comfortable waking up in a new kind of world. We could even have her explain everything and hearing it come from someone she trusts is better for her."

The doctor sighed and and reluctantly agreed. "Just don't tell her what you and your parents chose because it will sway Courtney's choice." After hugging me Kayla said, "I promise I won't say anything. Thank you." The nurse and doctor Braden left the room and I was about to thank the nurse for helping us, until she looked at Kayla and gave her a mischievous grin. Which Kayla returned.

"Okay sis." She walked over to the window and closed the blinds. She did the same thing with the door, closing and locking it. "We have a lot of ground to cover." She sat down on my bed and gave my arm a small pat. "Starting with the fact that your doctor is a werewolf."